Life under the 2nd Kingdom and under the rule of Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong: a monk is a thief, and a beggar is not that poor

Monk-thief was defrocked and arrested (Photo: Samay Thmei, Koh Santepheap newspaper)

Unbelievable story: Monk robs 2 million riels ($500) from a beggar

Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Koh Santepheap newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Battambang province: One monk was arrested by the Thmar Kaul district police and handed over the Sovann Bopharam Thmar Kaul pagoda committee and its abbot on 11 May, after the police found out that the monk used a cleaver knife to attack a couple of son and father beggars, causing serious injuries on one of them, and robbing the beggars of 2.1 million riels (~$500). The robbery attack took place at 9:30 PM on 10 May when the two beggars were resting for the night at a pagoda in Poy Yung village, Ta Poung commune, Thmar Kaul district, Battambang province.

Khim Ho, also known as Er, the arrested monk, is a 19-year-old monk, native of 42 village, Poipet commune, O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province, he took the vow at the Mong Chen pagoda, Poipet commune, before coming over to reside at the Sovann Bopharam Thmar Kaul pagoda during the past month. The police indicated that the monk used a cleaver knife to ax two beggars: 51-year-old Moeung Poeung received two cuts on the back of his head, but his son was not injured. The monk then robbed 2.1 million riels from the beggars.

The police said that the two victims came from Svay Rieng province, and they begged in the province of Battambang for several years now. The money robbed was saved by the father for a long period of time. On the morning after the robbery attack, monk Khim Ho was suspected by the police of perpetrating the robbery and was taken by the police for questioning.

In front of the police, the suspected monk confessed that 2 days earlier, the two beggars brought 2.1 million riels and asked him to safe keep it for them while they travel around to beg. On 10 May morning, the father came to ask for his money back so they can return back home. Khim Ho then gave the man back his money. Nevertheless, the 2 beggars asked the monk to rest for the night inside the building. In the middle of the night, Khim Ho took off his monk robe, and changed to street clothes, he had with him a cleaver knife when he went after the 2 sleeping beggars. He then axed the father twice on the head, put all the money in a bag, and fled the scene.

Later on Khim Ho went back to his room and changed to his monk robe back. During that night the pagoda went on full alert, but no one reported the incident to the police, it was only until daybreak that the police was informed.

Phim Mot, the deputy police inspector of Thmar Kaul district, said that the monk went to fetch the stolen money from his hiding place inside a stupa, but when he handed over the money to the owner, there was only 1.1 million riels, whereas the owner claimed that 2.1 million riels was stolen from him. The police inspector said that he handed over Khim Ho to the pagoda committee and its abbot so that they defrock him. He will then take Khim Ho back with him to build the case and send him to court.